I might get a McIntosh 6100 some thoughts please*

A friend is looking to sell his 6100, he has waaaay too much gear, I've always wanted to join the McIntosh club, his is very minty. I have Martin Logan speakers so I'm not expecting it to power them to concert levels with the 70wpc amp section, More of a late night smooth jazz and classical evening SPL. Possibly use it as a pre-amp at other times, I like the taping functions since I do a lot of dubbing reel to reel and cassette.

I really don't know much about Mac's and I might be better off just getting a preamp only, but the price seems right with the case, panlocks and manuals. A great phono section is a must for me, and he says that the Mac's is superb. He's not local so I can't hear it in my system first. I feel silly even thinking about spending a couple hundred dollars I don't have just to get it, but it's so pretty and I'm sure it sounds wonderful .

So another question would be if I use another amp with it, I'd be using a really long IC to keep the amp near the speakers, will the 6100 be ok with that? I'm using a Marantz 2270 receiver as a preamp now and it's fine pushing a long IC run, the IC's are unknown brand I cribbed from a local radio station. About 15 feet long.

Thanks in advance

 

I'd rather have the Mac than the Marantz. You might be able to recover some of the cost by selling some other gear. You'll not have a lot of power for the M-l but if you are not using it for really loud listening and prefer a romantic over a dynamic sound, it'll really be pretty sweet. It will make the system sound bigger and cleaner.
-Bill

 

The McIntosh MA 6100 is excellent, but with a difficult speaker load you need a last year's model with the impedance switch if you can. My old 6100 and my MAC 1900 were both last year models. And you'll love your 6100. It's a nice integrated. They were built 1973-1979.

 

old school 70wpc SS integrated amp

-Bill

 

McIntosh MA 6100 (made 1973-1979) integrated amplifier. 70 watts/channel. Very nice integrated in the old McIntosh voicing. Cost $699 new.

 

I had the same thought as pdenny and was going to recommend a Mac Mini instead.

 

Thanks for all the input folks , McLover how can I tell if it's a later model? His pics won't download for me on the back shots, this one is from the net, I understand that ML's are not an easy drive, which is why I'd like to get something more their style for heavier listen session's, the low level 'Old School' Mac sound is what I'm lookin' for, I'm assuming the pre-amp section will deliver that?

The Marantz 2270 is what it is, just a fab sound, 3 martini's and all that ... looking to upgrade the whole sheebang, a bigger soundstage, more sweetness ... as has been mentioned, 'stats don't have dynamics like some cone drivers, but I love the creamy, lightning quick midrange, highs and vocals. From what I've read the 6100 is right on in the Mac sound, though I don't want to wreck it with the ML's, I take it the early 6100's don't like a low ohm load?? thanks for the help

 

http://www.classicaudio.com/value/mac/MA6100.html, from the net ... Where is this impedance switch??

 

Good info here:

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/Frame_McIntosh.htm


http://mcc.berners.ch/integrated-amplifiers/MA6100.pdf

 

In the rear panel on last year's production MA 6100 integrateds and MAC 1900 receivers you will find a toggle switch marked 4 ohms/8 ohms-16 ohms. Only 1979 production (the last series) had the switch.

 

Big thanks Jim that helps a lot, I see the toggle switch for the ohms on the back, and the one my friend has, has it !

 

Thank you sir! I'm curious why the 4ohm and 8ohm output is the same? Is it the way the transformers are wound? I know the new Mac's have the AutoFormer circuitry that keeps that the same, but I wasn't aware the older ones had a tight reign like that.

 

ELECTRICAL: 70w/ch at 4 or 8 ohms, 40w/ch at 16 ohms. Response 20-20kHz (+0.5 -0.5dB). Distortion 0.20%. Noise and hum -90dB high level, -76dB low level re 10mV. Damping factor 50 at 8 ohms. Power amp noise -95dB. Input sensitivity and impedance: high level 0.3V at 250k, phono 2.5mV at 47k, tape head 3.0mV at 500k, power amp 3.0V at 100k. Tape output 0.3V. Dual concentric tone controls +16dB to -16dB. LF filter 50Hz at 12dB/oct. HF filter 7k at 12dB/oct. Presence boost 4dB at 1.5k.

EDIT: Oops, I thought you were asking IF the 6100 was 70w/ch at both 4 or 8 ohms.......

 

Yeah, I think the o.p. meant McIntosh and not Macintosh. BIG difference.

A gort should change the thread title accordingly.

 

Heh, yeah I was wondering what he'd want a Macintosh 6100 for in this day and age. That's some pretty old computer technology!

 

I owned a McIntosh 6100 for about 14 years. Great performer, utterly solid and dependable - and the phono section is very good. Sold it around 1988 for exactly what I paid for it. The 14 years of ownership were wonderful - and obviously didn't cost much.

 

I have a MA6100. Use it nearly every day. Had to change the volume/on/off switch. McIntosh has the parts. Easy swap out.

 

Thanks for changing the thread title

Hey sorry about the wording mix up, I know how McIntosh is refered to as a Mac in some circles, I was trying to be clever .

I think it's gonna be a done deal now, a nice well cared for unit from a trusted friend sounds too good to pass up, especially since he knows how to pack and ship it right, I know those glass faceplates don't suffer fools! I'm gonna set up a payment plan with him and see what I can sell to speed things up.

I'm still attached to that Marantz, it was my first getting back into the hobby purchase, I have 2 of them, my partner uses one in his system, he's gonna be jealous when he hears the 6100, tough turkey bud, he can get his own

 

I have a MA 6200 and I love it, I'm sure you'll be amazed at how it sounds when you get it.